Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Agree with some of that but not all. I don't think Wenger has been fair and reasonable in this situation. Whenever there is a contract dispute, he'll bench a player. He did the same to Theo before, he did it with Cashley, with Wiltord, Edu.....

Luckily, we haven't been desperate for Theo to play, but I can't see how Welbeck is starting ahead of him. It's senseless because Welbeck left Utd feeling disgruntled about being played out of position instead of up front. Not sure how patient Welbeck will be or even if his goal contribution will come close to Theo's. He's like a Gervinho without the dribbling skills.

It's funny because we had this same problem with Wiltord years ago where he wanted to play as striker and then left on a free.

I think that has been wilfully ignored for the sake of people buying into their own arguments about Theo being inadequate in a number of ways. Let's be honest, in all likelihood the contract talks have played a major part in why Theo hasn't played more and as you just mentioned Wenger has previous on this. The longer it continues the more patently obvious it is that the contract talks are a factor. Why anybody would behave as if it is irrelevant by now is strange....

Now we have a few decent players, people are yelling, SELL HIM. As Emirates gooner says, a fanciful swap with Sterling poses the same problem as Sterling himself wants BIG wages and he has proven no more at the top level than Walcott has.

The Saga has been drawn out this long and it was the last time because Arsenal know getting a Walcott replacement is neither easy nor cheap and Theo knows finding another club who will pay him handsomely and represent a decent chance at the 1st team won't be easy either. Liverpool is no quick fix to the situation, the saga will continue and there will be those who will have us believe that Theo continues not to be played because Wenger has suddenly woke up to the fact that Theo isn't very good.

Chamberlain and Gnabry still have to prove their consistent quality as well as their fitness. Those basing arguments around Theo's injury record should be reminded of the fact that Chamberlain and Gnabry haven't exactly had injury free Arsenal careers either.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

I used to think Smalling was decent but I went off him a long time ago. I think Gabriel will take Per's place but I'd rather see us bring someone in before we let him go....and preferably not Smalling.

[GP]

Smalling is shizite.

[Niall_Quinn]

This is the first season in an age where we're enjoying competition for places and general coverage in most positions. This is only possible because we have dug the chequebook out and brought in quality. Plus Wenger lucked into a couple of players. So we don't start selling now, unless it's to shovel shit out the door. Walcott is not in that category. Unless his theivesagents are asking for a ludicrous amount and provided the guy wants to stay and isn't trying to engineer a move we should be keeping players like this in the hope that one day Wenger will learn about squad rotation.

People say Walcott wouldn't get a start elsewhere, except at Liverpool. Bullshit. He'd walk into the Utd or gypos teams. Ashley Young and Jesus Navas? Give me a break, Walcott pisses over those two. Maybe the chavs would be the exception but anywhere else he'd be a starter. I don't think his negotiating position is at all weak. We want him here playing for us rather than elsewhere playing against us. Sadly, unfortunately, disgracefully, £100K pw is not top money in the PL these days. Pretty much every gypo is on that I would suspect. It's the natural consequence of the era of the dopers.

We've got to start keeping players long term now. Do we want a club where the whole team rotates out every 2-3 years? Pay him, it's his last big contract and his last chance to deliver. He can be sold 2 years in if it doesn't work out but he has a lot to prove and the best years of his career should be coming up if the kid has anything about him at all.

[Power n Glory]

This is the first season in an age where we're enjoying competition for places and general coverage in most positions. This is only possible because we have dug the chequebook out and brought in quality. Plus Wenger lucked into a couple of players. So we don't start selling now, unless it's to shovel shit out the door. Walcott is not in that category. Unless his theivesagents are asking for a ludicrous amount and provided the guy wants to stay and isn't trying to engineer a move we should be keeping players like this in the hope that one day Wenger will learn about squad rotation.

People say Walcott wouldn't get a start elsewhere, except at Liverpool. Bullshit. He'd walk into the Utd or gypos teams. Ashley Young and Jesus Navas? Give me a break, Walcott pisses over those two. Maybe the chavs would be the exception but anywhere else he'd be a starter. I don't think his negotiating position is at all weak. We want him here playing for us rather than elsewhere playing against us. Sadly, unfortunately, disgracefully, £100K pw is not top money in the PL these days. Pretty much every gypo is on that I would suspect. It's the natural consequence of the era of the dopers.

We've got to start keeping players long term now. Do we want a club where the whole team rotates out every 2-3 years? Pay him, it's his last big contract and his last chance to deliver. He can be sold 2 years in if it doesn't work out but he has a lot to prove and the best years of his career should be coming up if the kid has anything about him at all.

Walcott’s in a weak bargaining position with us because he’s dealing with a manager that’s trying to flex muscle on him. I’m not saying he’s in a weak overall position as if he has no other choice but to sign. Clubs will come in for him and you’re right about the two Manchester clubs. But I don’t think Wenger will back down from this one. We’re winning games, he has Sanchez, Ox, Welbeck, Ozil that can play on the wing so I don’t see him backing down because it’s not like the last contract talk situation.

During the last contract dispute, he benched Theo, tried to talk up Gnarby and played him in the first team only to end up with egg on his face. Gnarby was far from ready and it was clear that we missed Theo. It didn’t make it any easier that Theo was scoring in cup games as well. Wenger reluctantly came back to the negotiation table. If Gnarby was ready and Theo was playing badly, I doubt we’d have come to an agreement.

I like Theo. I rate his contribution even though I think we could get way more out of him on the left or up front. But I honestly think he should move on. Arsenal fans don’t believe in him and his own coach has once again tried to shift him out of the team and show that he’s not needed. In fact, I think Wenger has been a little disrespectful with his comments. He should move whilst young enough to still develop.

[selassie]

Walcott’s in a weak bargaining position with us because he’s dealing with a manager that’s trying to flex muscle on him. I’m not saying he’s in a weak overall position as if he has no other choice but to sign. Clubs will come in for him and you’re right about the two Manchester clubs. But I don’t think Wenger will back down from this one. We’re winning games, he has Sanchez, Ox, Welbeck, Ozil that can play on the wing so I don’t see him backing down because it’s not like the last contract talk situation.

During the last contract dispute, he benched Theo, tried to talk up Gnarby and played him in the first team only to end up with egg on his face. Gnarby was far from ready and it was clear that we missed Theo. It didn’t make it any easier that Theo was scoring in cup games as well. Wenger reluctantly came back to the negotiation table. If Gnarby was ready and Theo was playing badly, I doubt we’d have come to an agreement.

I like Theo. I rate his contribution even though I think we could get way more out of him on the left or up front. But I honestly think he should move on. Arsenal fans don’t believe in him and his own coach has once again tried to shift him out of the team and show that he’s not needed. In fact, I think Wenger has been a little disrespectful with his comments. He should move whilst young enough to still develop.

I like Theo too but this one seems to have got quite personal between him and Wenger. Wenger has also gone very public on it which is quite strange for him. Theo is definitely gone, I agree with your points regarding Wenger freezing him out of the team and not backing down etc because we now have very credible alternatives who can play on the flanks ahead of Theo.

I reckon Theo will go to one of our top 4 rivals, I wouldn't be surprised if they all went in for him TBH, Chelsea and United don't really need him but I think they would challenge Liverpool and City for his signature.

[Power n Glory]

I think that has been wilfully ignored for the sake of people buying into their own arguments about Theo being inadequate in a number of ways. Let's be honest, in all likelihood the contract talks have played a major part in why Theo hasn't played more and as you just mentioned Wenger has previous on this. The longer it continues the more patently obvious it is that the contract talks are a factor. Why anybody would behave as if it is irrelevant by now is strange....

Now we have a few decent players, people are yelling, SELL HIM. As Emirates gooner says, a fanciful swap with Sterling poses the same problem as Sterling himself wants BIG wages and he has proven no more at the top level than Walcott has.

The Saga has been drawn out this long and it was the last time because Arsenal know getting a Walcott replacement is neither easy nor cheap and Theo knows finding another club who will pay him handsomely and represent a decent chance at the 1st team won't be easy either. Liverpool is no quick fix to the situation, the saga will continue and there will be those who will have us believe that Theo continues not to be played because Wenger has suddenly woke up to the fact that Theo isn't very good.

Chamberlain and Gnabry still have to prove their consistent quality as well as their fitness. Those basing arguments around Theo's injury record should be reminded of the fact that Chamberlain and Gnabry haven't exactly had injury free Arsenal careers either.

This happens all the time on here. The knives were out for Theo when he had his last round of contract talks. If you'd have joined GW earlier you'd see how often we have this conversation. If It's not Ox, Gnarby or Welbeck touted as the better option, it's Lennon, Young and God knows who else. This happens often and regardless of the stats or his contribution, he won't be appreciated as a winger here because the way Wenger has him playing is so unorthodox. But his last fully fit season he scored 21 goals with 14 assists. 14 goals and 10 assists in the Prem. You'd think that would count for something.

I think it's time he moves on so he can at least try to develop more of his game. He came to Arsenal to emulate Henry and that's gone out the window. Wenger seems content to pigeonhole him into this unique wide forward role, so now he has this tag as a 'specialist' player that can only be used under certain circumstances. That's not good for his career and it means his manager has failed to develop him into a more well rounded player. He's no slouch and I'm sure he'd defend if that was a part of the coaching.

[Power n Glory]

I like Theo too but this one seems to have got quite personal between him and Wenger. Wenger has also gone very public on it which is quite strange for him. Theo is definitely gone, I agree with your points regarding Wenger freezing him out of the team and not backing down etc because we now have very credible alternatives who can play on the flanks ahead of Theo.

I reckon Theo will go to one of our top 4 rivals, I wouldn't be surprised if they all went in for him TBH, Chelsea and United don't really need him but I think they would challenge Liverpool and City for his signature.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32067058

The most recent development.

Wenger never usually speaks so negatively about contract negotiations but it reminds me of RVP’s situation where he told everyone that it doesn’t always make sense to offer a huge contract to player passing his peak years. Theo’s out of here.

[fakeyank]

Khedira will be available on a free this summer. Time to get that man a deal here!

[selassie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32067058

The most recent development.

Wenger never usually speaks so negatively about contract negotiations but it reminds me of RVP’s situation where he told everyone that it doesn’t always make sense to offer a huge contract to player passing his peak years. Theo’s out of here.

Shame because Theo offers this team a lot, admittedly Sanchez has effectively replaced his goal and assist contribution but Theo is still hugely important to us and we will miss him when he's gone.